2023 Jets Country Player Profile: TE Izaiah Gathings (43)

Meet every player on the New York Jets' 90-man roster through our preseason series

Undrafted rookie tight end Izaiah Gathings is one of the fortunate few. 

In a rare occurrence, the overlooked prospect turned his rookie camp tryout into a UDFA contract and landed on an NFL team's 90-man roster. Gathings, a converted receiver, is one of six tight ends competing for the New York Jets this preseason. 

The Middle Tennessee product began his college career at Division I FCS member Gardner-Webb, but left after the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

The 6-foot-4 Gathings made 12 appearances (11 starts) at receiver for MTSU last year, totaling 559 yards and two touchdowns on 60 receptions. He caught at least four passes in seven different games during his final collegiate campaign. 

Gathings finished as the team's second-leading receiver in a 25-23 victory in the 2022 Hawai'i Bowl. He made seven catches for 69 yards, including an 11-yard third-down conversion on the game-winning, fourth-quarter scoring drive.

Prior to transferring up to the FBS, Gathings enjoyed a 1,000-yard receiving season with Gardner-Webb in 2019.

In addition to returnees Tyler Conklin, C.J. Uzomah and Jeremy Ruckert, Gathings joins a tight ends group that includes fellow UDFA E.J. Jenkins and seventh-round rookie Zack Kuntz.

UPDATE: Gathings was released by the Jets on July 21.

Izaiah Gathings makes an acrobatic catch vs. UConn / © David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Izaiah Gathings, Tight End

Number: 43
Current Status: RELEASED (July 21)
How/When Acquired: UDFA tryout / 2023
College: Middle Tennessee
2022 Final Stats: 12 GP, 11 GS, 60 receptions, 559 rec yards, 2 TD receptions, 9.3 ypc (at MTSU)

Pinned Tweet

Izaiah Gathings breaks a tackle and gives the Blue Raiders 6 more!@MT_FB leads 17-10.

📺 > @CBSSportsNet pic.twitter.com/9yimW2HQaU

— Conference USA (@ConferenceUSA) October 22, 2021

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